Drug use, high speed suspected in deadly crash

Authorities believe drugs and speed were factors in a crash that sent a car into a group of trees and left the driver dead Thursday evening.

The Louisiana State Police said Harold Crawford, 56, of Gonzales died in the wreck.

It happened on LA 42 east of LA 63 in the Frost area of Livingston Parish just before 7 p.m.

Troopers said the preliminary investigation shows Crawford went off the road in a curve, rolled through a ditch and slammed into some trees. They added the 1996 Saturn SL hit the trees on the driver's side.

Crawford was flown to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, where he later died from his injuries.

Investigators said they suspect he was under the influence of drugs and driving too fast at the time of the accident. They added he was not wearing a seatbelt.

A sample of Crawford's blood was sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for toxicology analysis.